We petition the United States Congress to modernize Title 17 of the United States Code by creating a clear licensing framework for qualifying transformative sampling.

The Issue
Sampling helped build hip-hop and continues to shape music across genres. Producers use existing sounds as creative material—chopping, rearranging and transforming them into new musical expressions.

However, using audio from an existing recording may involve two separately owned copyrights: the sound recording and the underlying musical composition. Obtaining both permissions can be expensive, slow and uncertain, even when a producer substantially transforms a limited portion of the source.

Independent producers need a workable legal path. Original creators and rights holders deserve compensation, transparency and meaningful protection.

What Is Transformative Sampling?
For purposes of this proposal, transformative sampling means using and substantially reworking a limited portion of an existing recording to create a new work that is original, meaningfully different and does not serve as a substitute for the source.

Recognizable or minimally altered samples would remain subject to traditional negotiated clearance.

What We Are Asking Congress to Consider
We ask Congress to hold hearings and develop a statutory licensing framework that:

• Clearly defines which transformed samples qualify.
• Creates a streamlined process addressing both the sound recording and musical composition.
• Establishes transparent royalties for the owners of both copyrights.
• Provides a clearly defined opt-out process for rights holders who do not want their works included.
• Allows rights holders to challenge uses that falsely imply endorsement or materially misrepresent the source.
• Protects the producer’s new, original contributions after the underlying sample has been lawfully licensed.
• Distinguishes transformative sampling from recognizable traditional sampling.

What This Proposal Does Not Do

This proposal does not call for free sampling, the taking of entire recordings or the removal of anyone’s ownership. It calls for a fair system in which permission is clear, compensation is built in and creative transformation has a lawful path to release.

Why This Matters
Copyright law has adapted before when technology changed music from player piano rolls to digital streaming. Today’s sample-based producers deserve a framework that reflects how music is actually created while respecting the people who made the original recordings possible.

A balanced system could reduce legal uncertainty, encourage collaboration, create new revenue from existing catalogs and allow independent producers to release and monetize original work responsibly.

Support the Movement
By signing this petition, you are asking Congress to:

1. Hear from producers, artists, songwriters, publishers, record labels and copyright experts.
2. Develop clear standards for qualifying transformative sampling.
3. Establish an efficient licensing, registration and royalty system.
4. Protect original rights holders while creating a realistic path for new creativity.

Sign and share this petition to support a music ecosystem where original creators are respected, new creators can innovate and everyone whose work contributes is fairly compensated.